On the other end of the line, the personal secretary for VIP clients spoke quickly while taking notes. "Understood, Fujiwara-san. Legally speaking, the other party does have the advantage since there are no other direct relatives. But that won't be a problem."
"I know it's not," Seiji replied calmly. "I'm not asking for your legal opinion. I'm telling you to fix it."
"At the same time, that girl's uncle and aunt... and the lawyer they hired... I want them to pay the price. You understand what I mean?"
His tone carried the casual arrogance of someone standing above it all.
Seiji hadn't needed to play by the rules for a long time.
He'd already stepped off the chessboard.
"Perfectly clear, Fujiwara-san!" The chief secretary's voice trembled with a hint of excitement. For a firm like Kuroiwa, which served only the elite, this kind of work... skirting the edge of legality and crushing opponents with overwhelming power... was where their true value shone brightest.
"Please rest assured. We'll form a special task force immediately and have everything resolved by tomorrow. We won't let such low-grade scum offend your eyes."
"Good."
Seiji hung up, satisfied.
On the other end, Kuroiwa Law Office roared into motion.
8 p.m., Akasaka, Tokyo ... A top-class kaiseki restaurant.
One of Kuroiwa's star lawyers, the "Queen of the Court" Yako Kirishima, was having sake with an elderly gentleman whose silver hair and refined manner gave away his status. He was her former professor... and now a senior judge at the Tokyo District Court.
"How's your health these days, sensei?" Yako asked as she poured his drink.
"Still hanging in there. Too many small, annoying cases," the old judge sighed, sipping his sake. "Actually, there's an interesting one right now... a guardianship case involving a minor. A pair of relatives hired a rather shady lawyer to grab their niece's inheritance. The paperwork's solid enough on the surface, and there's a pretrial conference tomorrow."
Yako set down her cup and smiled faintly. "Sensei, that's exactly the case I wanted to discuss with you tonight."
The judge's hand paused midair, then he downed his sake in one smooth motion.
"Oh, is that so?" he said lightly. "Then perhaps I should take another look at the file tomorrow. Maybe the clerk made a mistake... an application full of such holes shouldn't have been accepted at all. It ought to be dismissed."
"Thank you, sensei." Yako smiled again and poured him another drink.
And just like that... between casual words and clinking glasses... a decision that would alter a young girl's entire future quietly shifted course.
11 p.m., Kabukicho, Shinjuku ... a private members-only bar.
Another Kuroiwa partner was drinking with a burly middle-aged man in plain clothes, his old high school buddy... and current chief of the Shinjuku Police Station.
"…Old friend, I need to trouble you again this time," the lawyer said, sliding a folder across the table.
"Trouble? Don't be ridiculous." The police chief opened it. Inside was a thick stack of documents detailing every crime committed by a certain lawyer named Ichiro Tanaka... perjury, fraud, tax evasion... all backed by an airtight chain of evidence.
"Hah, perfect timing. I was one case short for my yearly quota," the chief said with a grin, slapping his chest. "I'll personally lead the arrest first thing tomorrow morning."
Midnight ... Kuroiwa Law Office, still brightly lit.
A five-member special investigation team was hard at work, analyzing two names on their screen: Jirou Kato and Kazuko Kato.
"Jirou Kato... multiple gambling debts, loan shark involvement, forged documents for fake loans."
"Kazuko Kato... shoplifting record, once detained for animal abuse involving a neighbor's pet."
"Perfect. Combine that with attempted fraud, coercion, and forgery... enough to keep them in prison for years. Tomorrow morning, we'll call our friends at the Prosecutor's Office and request arrest warrants directly."
Meanwhile...
A black Toyota Alphard silently pulled up outside Megumi Kato's home.
The door opened, and a tall, athletic woman in a fitted black suit stepped out. Her short hair framed a face as sharp as her expression.
She was Nightingale... one of Aegis Security's elite agents specializing in female protection and discreet operations.
She rang the doorbell.
Inside, Megumi approached cautiously, peering through the peephole. A woman in a black suit stood outside... unfamiliar, but clearly not some random stranger.
Could this be someone sent by Fujiwara-sensei?
After a moment's thought, she opened the door.
"Megumi Kato-san?" The woman's eyes swept her up and down, confirming her identity.
"Yes."
"Seiji-san requests your presence," Nightingale said crisply.
"…I understand."
Megumi didn't ask anything more. She quietly changed her shoes, locked the door behind her, and followed the woman into the car.
Inside, silence.
Nightingale focused on driving, not saying a word.
Megumi sat in the backseat, watching the city lights blur past the window. It felt as if she'd boarded a spacecraft, leaving the world she'd known for eighteen years... heading into an unknown universe beyond her control.
The car finally descended into the underground parking lot of a high-rise in Kyoto.
"We're here." Nightingale parked and spoke for the second time. "Seiji-san is waiting for you on the top floor."
Then she fell silent again.
"…Thank you." Megumi bowed slightly, stepped out, and followed two black-suited men who had appeared to escort her. They bowed in greeting, gestured politely, and guided her to a private elevator.
One swiped a black keycard across the sensor, lighting up the button for the top floor. They bowed again and stepped back as the doors closed.
Megumi was alone.
The elevator ascended smoothly, the digital display climbing... 10… 20… 30…
Her heartbeat quickened with the rising numbers.
Nervousness, fear, uncertainty... all tangled together.
Ding...
The bell chimed softly. The doors slid open, revealing whatever fate awaited her.
Megumi drew a deep breath, forcing herself calm.
There was no turning back now.
She stepped into a spacious private entryway.
Ahead, a pair of heavy double doors stood slightly ajar... like a silent invitation.
Megumi pushed them open and entered.
Lights flicked on automatically, washing the sleek interior in a warm glow. A new pair of women's slippers had been placed neatly by the shoe cabinet.
Without a word, she changed into them and walked forward, her heart pounding.
The living room beyond was enormous... one wall made entirely of floor-to-ceiling glass, the Kyoto skyline glittering beyond like stars scattered across the earth.
The design was minimalist and modern: monochrome palette, tastefully expensive furniture, an air of cold perfection.
And there, seated on a vast black sofa, was Seiji.
Dressed in comfortable loungewear, he looked perfectly at ease, a faintly amused smile playing on his handsome face.
"You're here," he said. His voice echoed clearly through the open space.
"…Yeah." Megumi's voice was soft.
"You made the right choice, Megumi." His gaze lingered on her calm, restrained demeanor, clearly pleased.
She looked at him, her tone flat. "…Maybe."
Seiji chuckled lightly. Setting down his glass, he stood and walked toward her.
As he approached, the faint scent of alcohol and something unmistakably masculine filled the air. Megumi instinctively stepped back, her body tense, mind bracing for what came next.
The transaction's "price," she thought grimly.
But Seiji stopped three steps away.
He didn't touch her... just studied her quietly.
After a moment, he spoke. "That's a beautiful dress."
Megumi blinked in surprise.
"You must be tired from the trip," he continued. His tone had softened unexpectedly. "The first room on the left at the end of the hall is the guest room. It's ready... private bathroom, fresh toiletries. Get some rest tonight."
"…Eh?"
Megumi froze completely.
Before coming here, she'd prepared herself for the worst.
She'd imagined the moment she entered this room, he'd treat her like a trophy to be claimed.
She'd steeled herself to endure whatever humiliation followed.
But now... nothing?
"We'll talk about everything else tomorrow." Seiji's smile deepened as he watched her bewilderment. "I may not be a good person, but I keep my promises."
"I said I'd help you, didn't I? You'll see my sincerity first. When those pests are gone... then we'll discuss our contract… slowly."
Megumi's heart swirled with confusion and a small, guilty sense of relief.
"…I understand. Thank you," she murmured.
"Go on." Seiji waved his hand casually.
"Yes. Good night, Fujiwara-sensei." She bowed before heading down the hall.
The guest room left her speechless once more.
It was larger than her entire living room back home, complete with a walk-in closet and luxurious bathroom.
She closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a long breath.
That night, for the first time in days, Megumi slept peacefully.
She knew Seiji was a scumbag.
But he was also a man who honored his "deals."
And for someone who had lost everything...
that was enough.
...
Meanwhile, that same night — a cheap izakaya in Shinjuku.
A filthy celebration was reaching its climax in a cramped private room.
The air reeked of grilled skewers, cheap shochu, and cigarette smoke. The greasy low table was littered with empty plates. Megumi's uncle, Jiro Kato, raised his glass with a flushed, bloated face, every wrinkle radiating greedy joy.
"To the glorious future of the Kato family! Cheers!" He downed half his beer in one gulp and wiped the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"And to Lawyer Tanaka's brilliant plan! Cheers!" His wife Kazuko shrieked from across the table. She picked up a piece of fried chicken with her red-painted nails and shot a satisfied look at the sleazy lawyer beside them. "Tanaka-sensei, we really owe you for this. Once we get our hands on that brat's inheritance, we definitely won't forget you."
Lawyer Tanaka adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled smugly, taking a leisurely sip of sake. "Please, don't worry. Legally speaking, we're airtight. As her only direct relatives, guardianship is yours for the taking. She's just a high school girl — what can she possibly do?"
"Hahaha, exactly!" Jiro slammed his palm on the table, making the dishes rattle. "Once we get the money, first thing I'm doing is getting rid of this shitty apartment! I'm buying a place in Minato! Then let's see who dares look down on me!"
"Jiro, don't forget you promised me a Hermès bag!" Kazuko's eyes glittered with desire for luxury goods. "I'm so sick of those neighbor women! I'll show them that Kazuko Kato is high society now!"
Her face twisted with spite. "And that little brat, always acting so cold and superior, like everyone owes her something. Hmph! Once we're her guardians, I'll teach her some manners!"
"Kazuko, why bother with a kid?" Jiro waved dismissively, though his eyes betrayed the same greed. "We'll be her guardians. Her money is our money. We can do whatever we want with her."
Lawyer Tanaka watched their ugly display with hidden contempt, but kept it well concealed.
"Come on, let's drink! Tanaka-sensei, another toast to you!" Jiro called out boisterously.
"Hahaha, cheers!" Tanaka raised his glass.
Clink!
The three glasses met with a crisp sound.
To them, it was the beautiful melody of money about to pour into their accounts.
But they had no idea their fantasized future was nothing but a mirage.
...